An ultrasound probe having an integrated user-operable switch mechanism with two or more positions for respectively requesting activation of a single function or multiple functions. For example, the user-operable switch mechanism may be of the type having only on and off positions. In response to movement (e.g., by depression, rotation or sliding) of the switch to the on. position, the system host computer will activate the associated system function in accordance with the current order of prioritized tasks to be performed. For example, the switch could be mapped to a freeze or print function. Alternatively, the user-operable switch may be of the type having multiple positions (e.g., a sliding switch or a rotary switch) corresponding to multiple functions.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system comprising: an ultrasound transducer probe comprising an array of piezoelectric transducer elements and a user-operable switch operable to transition between first and second states; and an ultrasound imaging system electrically coupled to said probe and comprising: means for pulsing said transducer array to transmit ultrasound beams; means for forming receive beams of acoustic data derived from echo signals detected by the transducer array subsequent to said beam transmits; signal processing means for converting said acoustic data into a respective set of imaging data for each successive scan; means for displaying an image for each scan which is a function of said respective set of imaging data; and means for performing a function on a selected set of imaging data in response to a transition from said first state to said second state of said user-operable switch.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said function is freezing said selected set of imaging data on said displaying means.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing imaging data, wherein said function is storing said selected set of imaging data in said memory.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a printer for printing imaging data, wherein said function is printing said selected set of imaging data.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user-operable switch comprises: a switch mechanism movable relative to said probe housing between first and second positions; and an electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said electrical switch having a first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said second position.
6. An ultrasound probe comprising: a probe housing; an ultrasound transducer array seated in said probe housing; a switch mechanism movable relative to said probe housing between first and second positions; a first electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said first electrical switch having an first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said second position; and an electrical cable comprising a multiplicity of electrical conductors, a first of said electrical conductors being connected to said first electrical switch, wherein said switch mechanism is further movable between said first position and a third position, further comprising a second electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said second electrical switch having a first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said third position, a second of said electrical conductors of said cable being connected to said second electrical switch.
7. A system comprising an ultrasound probe connected to an ultrasound imaging system by a probe/system connector comprising a multiplicity of electrical connections, wherein said probe comprises a probe housing; an ultrasound transducer array seated in said probe housing; a switch mechanism movable relative to said probe housing between first and second positions; a first electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said first electrical switch having a first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said second position; and an electrical cable extending outside said probe housing and comprising a multiplicity of electrical conductors, a first one of said electrical conductors connecting said first electrical switch to a first of said electrical connections of said probe/system connector, and said ultrasound imaging system comprises: a beamformer for activating said ultrasound transducer array to transmit beams and forming vectors of acoustic data from receive signals transduced by said ultrasound transducer array following said beam transmits; a display subsystem for displaying imaging data derived from said acoustic data; first means for performing a first predetermined function on a set of said imaging data; a sensor comprising a detecting circuit and a first input terminal connecting said detecting circuit to said first electrical connection of said probe/system connector, said detecting circuit outputting a first control signal in response to detecting a transition of said electrical switch from said first state to said second state; and a computer programmed to activate and control said first means to perform said first predetermined function in response to said first control signal.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said first predetermined function is freezing an image currently being displayed by said display subsystem.
9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said switch mechanism is further movable between said first position and a third position; said probe further comprises a second electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said second electrical switch having a first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said third position, a second of said electrical conductors of said cable being connected to said second electrical switch; said ultrasound imaging system further comprising second means for performing a second predetermined function on said set of said imaging data, said sensor further comprises a second input terminal connecting said detecting circuit to said second electrical connection of said probe/system connector, said detecting circuit outputting a second control signal in response to detecting a transition of said second electrical switch from said first state to said second state, and said computer being programmed to activate and control said second means to perform said second predetermined function in response to said second control signal.
10. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a printer for printing said imaging data, wherein said second predetermined function is printing a copy of an image currently being displayed by said display subsystem.
11. A system comprising: an ultrasound transducer probe comprising an array of piezoelectric transducer elements, a user-operable switch operable to transition between first and second states, and respective electrical conduction paths electrically connected to said piezoelectric transducer elements and to said user-operable switch; and an ultrasound imaging system comprising: a transmit beamformer for pulsing said transducer array to transmit ultrasound beams; a receive beamformer for forming receive beams of acoustic data derived from echo signals detected by the transducer array subsequent to said beam transmits; a signal processing chain for converting said acoustic data into imaging data; a display monitor for displaying said imaging data; means for performing a function on said imaging data; a sensor electrically connected to that electrical conduction path which is electrically connected to said user-operable switch, said sensor outputting a control signal in response to a transition from said first state to said second state of said user-operable switch; and a computer programmed to activate and control said means to perform said function in response to said control signal.
12. The system as recited in claim 11; wherein said function is freezing an image currently being displayed on said display monitor.
13. The system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a cine memory for storing imaging data, wherein said function is storing in said cine memory imaging data corresponding to an image currently being displayed on said display monitor.
14. The system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a printer for printing said imaging data, wherein said function is printing a copy of an image currently being displayed on said display monitor.
15. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said user-operable switch comprises: a switch mechanism movable relative to said probe housing between first and second positions; a first electrical switch operatively coupled to said switch mechanism, said first electrical switch having an first state when said switch mechanism is in said first position and a second state when said switch mechanism is in said second position.
16. A system comprising: an ultrasound transducer probe comprising an array of piezoelectric transducer elements and a user-operable switch operable to transition between first and second states; and an ultrasound imaging system comprising: a transmitter for pulsing said transducer array to transmit ultrasound beams; a receiver for acquiring acoustic data derived from echo signals detected by the transducer array subsequent to said beam transmits; a signal processing chain for converting said acoustic data into imaging data in accordance with operating parameter settings; a display device for displaying images representing said imaging data; and a controller for setting an operating parameter of said ultrasound imagine system in response to a transition from said first state to said second state of said user-operable switch.
17. A system comprising: an ultrasound transducer probe comprising an array of piezoelectric transducer elements and a user-operable input device operable to transition between first and second states; and an ultrasound imaging system comprising: a transmitter for pulsing said transducer array to transmit ultrasound beams; a receiver for acquiring acoustic data derived from echo signals detected by the transducer array subsequent to said beam transmits; a signal processing chain for converting said acoustic data into imaging data in accordance with operating parameter settings; a display device for displaying images representing said imaging data; and a controller for changing an operating parameter of said ultrasound imaging system in response to a transition from said first state to said second state of said user-operable input device.
18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said operating parameter is receiver gain.
19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said operating parameter is dynamic range.
20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said operating parameter is a Doppler velocity scale.
21. A method for operating an ultrasound imaging system having a hand-held transducer probe, comprising the steps of: holding the transducer probe; placing the remote end of the transducer probe in acoustically coupled relationship with the body being examined; viewing a first succession of images on a display screen while moving the transducer probe across the body, said first succession of images being produced while an operating parameter of the ultrasound imaging system is set at a first value; operating a switch on the transducer probe to change the setting of said operating parameter of said ultrasound imaging system from said first value to a second value different than said first value; and viewing a second succession of images on the display screen while moving the transducer probe across the body, said second succession of images being produced while said operating parameter of the ultrasound imaging system is set at said second value.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 28, 1998
May 29, 2001
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